Fear – clammy palms, pit in the stomach, throat in knots, heart pounding. We’ve all been there, right?

At the edge of a proverbial cliff. Your past and present on one side, your dreams and future aspirations on the other. It’s the point where your feet are still on solid ground but your heart and soul want more for you. The next step requires you to step off the cliff into the unknown and hope that you don’t end up smashed to pieces in the process.

Where might you be feeling at the edge of your cliff?

Perhaps you realize your relationship is no longer fulfilling you, and it’s time to part ways so you can experience more love and connection. Maybe your career feels stifling to you, and you can’t deny that your soul cries a little bit every time you head into a meeting with your boss.

Or perhaps you are your own boss, and it’s time to expand your vision and your reach but the thought of putting your services out there in even more powerful ways makes you weak in the knees. The cliff’s edge appears anytime we are on the point of reinventing ourselves and stepping into the next greatest and highest version of you.

Everyone gets to these moments where the “tried and true” doesn’t cut it anymore. We get restless and agitated in our comfort zone, but when the moment comes to bust out into our fullest and most brilliant potential, there can be hesitation.

It is at the moments of our greatest reinvention and breakthroughs that the inner critic starts to play nasty. The ego desperately wants to keep us safe and secure so it will break out the most frightening scenarios, logical sounding excuses and intense fears designed to cause you to step back from the edge of the cliff.

We stare into the abyss and say “Holy s….mokes! What am I thinking?”

No one is immune from feeling the fear when standing at the edge of the cliff. Whether you’re a gazillionaire or just starting out, everyone feels the fear of stepping out. The difference is that truly successful and brilliant leaders know how to move through the fear zone quickly and effectively so they don’t get sidetracked.

Here are 3 tips you can put to use right away to help you break free of your comfort zone and soar to your potential.

Tip #1 – See Your Impact Bigger Than Your Fears

One of the quickest ways to break out of analysis paralysis and immobilizing fears is to just get over yourself. Remember WHY you want to step off the cliff in the first place. There are people out there who are waiting for your gifts, talents and presence. It could be a group of clients, it could be a new life partner, it could be an organization dedicated to ending world hunger.

When we stop ourselves short, we rip other people off. Connect to your dreams. Be inspired by the difference you want to make in your lifetime. After all, some of the world’s greatest leaders and visionaries like Ghandi or King didn’t settle for what was comfortable. They took a stand for a bigger picture than their own personal fears or doubts.

Tip #2 – Break It Down

When your ego is grabbing onto your ankles trying to keep you playing small, it’s easier to dislodge its grip by breaking things down into small steps. When my father taught me how to ride a bike, he didn’t just say “Here’s a bike, now go and ride it.” He had me first practice handling the bike. Then he supported me as I started to pedal. Before I knew it, his hand was gone and I was riding on my own. My goal was not to do the Tour de France right off the bat, but simply to ride around the track in the local school yard.

Identify the next simple action step you can take, and then go for it. Get a quick win! Enjoy your success and then look for your next step. There’s nothing like inspired action and success to dissipate the fear and give you confidence to keep going for your dreams.

Tip #3 – Grab Your Parachute

When your fears get really loud and make you want to stop in your tracks, it’s fine to stop for a moment. Is there something you’ve forgotten? Do you have all the tools and resources you need? Do you have the support of people in your life who can hold you to your highest and encourage you to step into your potential?

Before you make any big leaps in life, make sure you have your parachute on. Whether it’s having a coach, mentor, support group or a circle of trusted friends, it’s easier to bust loose when you know you are not alone. Take advantage of those who have gone before you. Let yourself be buoyed by people who know you cheering you on.

© 2011 Carolyn B. Ellis All Rights Reserved